In this episode of Xbox Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr (Insipid Ghost) sits down with Ian Proulx, CEO and co-founder of 1047 Games, for a candid discussion about Splitgate’s past year, the Summer Game Fest moment, and the lessons learned along the way.

Ian reflects on the challenges of building a sequel versus a new IP, why Splitgate 2 missed expectations for some players, and the difficult decision to reset and relaunch the game as Splitgate: Arena Reloaded. From there, the conversation shifts into gameplay philosophy, retention metrics, portal accessibility, monetization, and what “stabilizing” the game actually means heading into 2026.

This is a thoughtful, direct conversation about course correction, leadership, and rebuilding trust — without framing anyone as a villain or a victim.

The Summer Game Fest moment and how it reshaped the Splitgate conversation

Lessons learned from that period and what Ian would do differently

Why building a sequel is different than building a new IP

Where Splitgate 2 missed player expectations

The decision to pull the game back and reset

Arena Reloaded’s refocus on classic arena gameplay

Arena Royale explained

Retention, requeue rate, and how 1047 measures success

Portal balance and accessibility tools

Monetization philosophy and rebuilding player trust

Performance, polish, and the quality bar moving forward

👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.

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